Refrigerating system



Nov. 27 1923.

M. P. OSBOURN REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed ug. 13. 1920 I IN VENTOR Mil/andFQjbmzn/a WITNESS fiTTOIPNEYS Patented Nov. 27,. 1921 UNITED sTATEs 111mm) 2; osnounn, or rmnannnrm a, rnnnsnvsm.

PATENT OFFICE.

nnrmenna'rino sxsrnu.

To all it' v rtay concern:

Be it known that I, MILLARD'P. OSBOURN, a citizen of the United States,-and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, in the county-(of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Systems, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawin a y invention relates to a system of'refrigeration based upon the principle of heat extraction by evaporation of a part of they bv a comparatively simple and reliable mechanical means without the. utilization or the intervention of any chemical or chemical re actions and with the elimination of the complicated and cumbersome devices heretofore found essential to reach similar ends.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a system of refri eration or a refrigerating apparatus adapte to operate upon the principle or -known law of nature that the evaporation of a liquid, such as water or solutions composed mainly of wat er and a dissolved substance, effects a cooling thereof, if the solution be not supplied with heat from an available source.

' \abstractingor absorbing heat from the re-' of the liquid or refrigerant as" Another object is-to provide the'aforesaid system or apparatus with means, inthe attainment'of the results incidental to refrigeration, capableof rapidly and vefliciently fri erant 0r coolin medium.

5 still further 0- ject is to provide such system or a paratus with means adapted to produce a high vacuum or very low absolute pressure corresponding to the vapor tension at; any desired temperature. 5

Application filed August 13,4920. Serial No.1408 ,82.

Still further objects and advanta es are to provide a system or apparatus w ich is capable of great capacity; will occupy very little space; be comparatively cheap to construct, involving extremely low first cost of installation; operate very economically with practically no wear and tear, and practically automaticall when once set in operation; require very llttle or no attention or attendance; be perfectly safe and free of any danger, as from explosions, requiring no pressure higher than that of the atmosphere; requiring no chemicals, avoiding any recharging and eliminating 1 practically all lomes by leaka e, corrosion, deterioration and the, like; re uce the cost of repairs and maintenance to an inconsequential or negliv gible quantity; operate at a very small expense of energy or power; do away with the use of steam eectors or othersteam appliances of any circulating pumps, cooling towers, cooling coils, turblne's and the like, and operate with .an extremely high efiicie by.

A still; further objecti is to provide the system or apparatus with means to render non-available any supply of heat from the exterior of the system or a paratus other than from the device or artic es upon which the refrigerant or cooling medium imposes its cooling efi'ect, such as a refrigerator containing food and similar goods; such means being preferably in the nature of a vacuum jacket and being so constructed that the vacuum thereof will be self-created and selfind, condensers, air pumps,

sustained from the operation of the system or apparatus. A still further object is to construct the apparatus for operation at pressure below that of the atmosphere, thereby avoiding the danger of explosions, leakage and the like.

Such other objects and advantages that are present in my invention will more fully appear in the following specification and upon the accompanying drawing.

'For the purpose of making clear the law of nature invo fact that any liquid, when vaporizing, must be supplied with heat, and, if no-other source of heat is available, it will be drawn :from the liquid itself, which ,is consequently cooled.

ved,reference is made to the I By my syster'n, the substance to be cooled, I

which ma be water, brine or any aqueous solution dalcium chlorid may be used instead of salt or sodium chlorid), is cooled directly within the apparatus Wltl'lOllhilllG use of a separate cooler, nor of a series of drawing, tie embodiment shown in Fi 1 elements in the figures shown,

Fig. 1 is a Wertical transverse section of one form of refrigerating apparatus, con structed in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 is a similar viewof another form.

Referrin now more, particularly to the comprises a refrigerator 1, havin therein a refrigerating compartment 2.- compartment is located a part of the refrigcrating device, such device comprising a 7 closed casing 3 provided with a tray or pan 4.and' vertical partitions 5 and 6, dividing the tray space and the casing 3 into two parts and chambers. The lower portion of, the casing 3 contains a refrigerant or liquid 7, such as brine, and has connected thereto a liquid conduit 8 leading to a pump 9, the

latter being a vacuum pum of the type disclosed andillustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 400,175, filed July 30, 1920. This pump may be operated by a motor 10 connected to the shaft 11 of the pump. The pan or tray may be provided with a trap 13011101112 for liquid sealing an opening 13 formed between the lower end of the partition 5 and the bottom of the trap 12, the tray '4' being provided with a rim 14 in the chamber 15 of the casing '3 whereby aliquid may be contained in the section of the pan 4 located in said chamber at a higher level than the"section of the pan located inthe chamber 16, the section .of'the pan in the latter chamberbeing'provided with a low rin117. The bottom of the pan section .in chamber 15 also may be provided with a plurality of perforations 18 through which the liquid may pour in "the form of a rain orspra-y to the lower por- 'tion of the chamber-15.. The partition .6

extends from the bottom of the* trap 1 2 to a point proximate' 'to thebottom of the casing 3 but'providing a communication be tween the lower portions of the chambers 15 and 16*. In the lower portion of the chamber 16, above the, liquid level thereof,

may be provided a hood orc'ap '18 supported, in any suitable manner in position over a taperedinlet 19 of a vapor conduit 20, the latter leading to the pump 9. The cap 18 is of use to preveht the entry of Within this a liquid pouring over or falling from the tray section located over said cap. In the upper part of the chamber 16 may be 10-" cated a lVorthin ton rotary spray ejector 21 provided wit a spraying nozzle 22 adapted to spray liquid into the section of the pan located 1n chamber 16. The ejector 21 ma be provided with a short connection I 37 lea in through the wall 5 into the cham ber- 15 w ereby vapoi s may be conducted from saidchamber to the ejector through said connection. From theejector 21 also leads a conduit 23 to a receiving tank 24 located beneath the pump 9,'the tank 24' being connected-to the pump 9 by a discharge conduit 25. In the receiver 24 is normally contained a certain amount of liquid adapted to flow into the conduit 23 to the ejector 21. The passage of liquid to theconduit .23 may be controlled by a check valve 26 to which is connected a rod 27 and a flqat ball 28, the check valve and the float means be ing mounted on a pivot 29,-whereby, as the liquid level in the chamber 24 rises, the

check valve 27 opens to'permit entranbe of "the liquid into the conduit 23. If, however,

. the liquid level in the receiver 24 should fall be ow a certain level, it would be desir able to upply additional fluid or liquid to said receiver. For this purpose, an 1 auxiliaryliquid supply conduit 30 is connected to the lower portion of the receiver 24 and the check valve 31 located in the receiver 24 to control the inward flow of liquid therefrom. Thischeck valve is pivotally mounted upon the pivot 32 and has connected thereto an arm 33 and a float ball 34. When the liquid level of thereceiver 24. is lowered, the float ball 34 will fall and the valve 31 will open, whereby liquid supply from the conduit 30 may enter the chamber 24 ,and re-.

in the chamber 24, the float 24 will rise and the valve 31 close.

In operation, the motor drives the pump at a ra id rate of rotation whereby a vacuum J chamber 16, the effect-of the vacuum being transmitted through the tapered inlet 19, around the cap 18 into the chamber 16. The eflectof the vacuum is also transmitted through the ejector 21 and the conduit 23 whereby the liquid in the receiver 24 will be forced through the conduit 23-into the v ejector 24 where thesame will be sprayed over the section of the ;pan located in the chamber 16., As the liquid is sprayedin "plenish the same. As the liquid level rises I is pro uced inthe' conduit 20 and in the said chamber, the vacuum therein will causewapartial vacuum of the li uid whereby latent heat of vaporization is extracted, and

consequently, the liquid'in the pan will he of "lower tem eraturethan'that III the receiver 24. This iquid will pass into the trap 12 and into the section of the-pan located in chamber 15 where the liquid may also pour iae through the perforations 18 into the lower portion of the chamber 15. The vacuum in the chamber 16 will be transmitted to the chamb through the ejector 21 and the connect'on 37 as well as through the communications between the walls 5 and 6 and the trap 12 and the bottom of the casing 3. The vacuum produced in chamber 15 will also be au mented by the action of the ejector so that the vacuum therein will maintain the liquid levels in chamber 15 higher than in chamber 16. As the liquid pours through the perforations 18, the vacuum in the chamber 15 will cause a further evaporation of a portion theregf, thereby further cooling the liquid in said chamber. The cooled liquid will therefore absorb heat transmitted through" the walls-of the casing 3 whereby the air space in thecompartment 2*will become lowered in tempe'rature. The liquid in the lower portion of chamber 15 3 will then flow through the opening beneath the wall 6 into the lower portion of the r 15' may be provided with'a plurality of perchamber 16, thence into the conduit 8 to the pump 9. It will ,be noted that the pump 9 1s providedwith an upwardly extending connection35 which isopen to the atmosphere, the pum 9 operating non-submerged, so

that the uids operated upon therein will flow the lower portion-of the chamber 16 leads through ,the connection 25 into the receiveg 24, the vapors mixed with the'liquids in said pump disengaging therefrom within the pump or within the receiver 24 and passing upwardly through the connection or pipe 35 to the atmosphere. It will thus be apparent that atmospheric pressure is present in the receiver '24 which will be efl'ective to force the liquid thereof through the pipe 23 to the ejector 21 which is being subjected to a high vacuum. 7

Referring to Fig. 2, the structure shown therein is a similar structure with theexception that instead of locatingtlie device within arefrigerator, the same may be provided with a circulating pipe and a coil, the latter being located in a refrigerator. This device comprises an outer easing 2, within which is located an inner casing 3' having compartments or chambers 15 and 16', the latter being open attheiupper end thereof to the interior of the basing chamber 2', whereby a vacuum space 36 will be formed between the walls of the casingB and 2', thereby insulating the casing 3' from inflow of heat. Thecasing 3" may be provided with partitions 5 and 6' with the former extending into a -trap 12 formed in the tray 4, the tray 14' being of the same form as that shown in Fig, l'with one section thereof located in the chamber 15 andthe other section thereof located in the chamber 16'. The section located in the chamber foratipns 18" through which :liquid may pour mto the lower portion of the chamber be also terial.

15. The wall 6', however, extends to the bottom of the chamber 3" thereby cutting of communication between the two lower portions of the casing 3'. The pan section,. In the chamber 15' may also be provided 7 with a wide flange 14' and the other section in the'chamber 16 provided with a narrow flange 17 In the up er art of the chamber 16'1'may be located a Vi orthington rotary spray e'ector 21' which may be provided ith a s ort connectiom 37 leading through t e wall 5' into the chamber 15', and conduit 23' leading to a receiving chamber 24'. The ejector may also be provided with a spray head 22 for the purpose of spraying lluids into the pan section located in the chamber 16'. Below the latter-pan section and inthe lower portion of the chamber 16 may be mounted, in anysuitable manner, a, hood-orca 18" above a tapered inlet or intake 19' o 'a vapor conduit 20 leading to the vapor spaces of the pumpv9, this pump being of th same type as that disclosed in, my copending'a plication, Serial No.v 400,175, filed J11 y 30, 1920. The ca 18 prevents entry of liquid in the inta e 19' as the liquid overflows the pan section in chamber 16'. From a 'liquidconduit 8' connected also to the" pum 9'. The pump 9 may be also pro- 1 vide with a vent ipe or conduit 35 anda discharge pipe 25 eading into the receiving chamber 24. Within the receiving chamber 24 may be pivotally mounted a check valve 26 having an arm 27: and a float 28 adapted, upon rise of liquid level in the chamber 24', to cause an opening of the check valve 26' to permit the inflow of liquid into the conduit or pipe 23', to the rotary ejector 21. ,Withimthe same chamber may ivotally mounted a check valve 31' provided with an arm 33" and a float 34 adapted upon lower in of the liquid level to cause an opening of t e check valve',31"'to permit inflow of replenishing liquid through the conduit 30 to supply the recei or 24''- wi'th liquid. The pump may be oper ted by a motor 10' driving the pump shaft 11. It, will-be noted that the lower chamber 15" may be connecte by a conduit 38 leading to a coil 39 located'in a chamber 40 of a refrigerator 41; the upper portion of the oil .bein'gconnected by a conduit 42 leading 'to the interior, of the chamber #16 above 9 the normal level ofthe liquid therein, the I pipe .or conduit 42 being normally below the level of the liquid in the chamber 15? o The various conduits running-to and from? the pump and casings 2' and 3' may be in-AL 2 sula't'ed, from heat in any suitable manner, as by \covering the same, with insulating'ma- In operation, the pump 9' creates and maintains "a vacuum thipugh' the conduits Job ortion of the lmaintained in the chamber 16, it wi l he also efiective on the spray ejected by the spray head r22 to evaporate a portion thereof, whereby latent heat of vaporization is extracted and the liquid flowing in the an chamber 15 section located in the chamber 16' wil be cooled. This liquid will flow throughfthe trap 12" into the pan section located in the In the chamber 15' is also created a'vacuum which may be transmitted throughthe connection 37 The vacuum in the. chamber 15, however, will be greater than that in'phamber 16. by reason of the 'fact that the Worthington rotary spray ejector will, upon its operation upon the liquid passing therethrou h, cause an, additiona vacuum which wil be transmitted throu h. the connection 37' to the chamber 15'. nasmuch ,as the vacuum in the cham: ber 15 is greater than in the chamber 16', the liquid level in the pan 4' will be hi her in the former chamber. As the liqui ours through the perforations 18" into the ower portion of the chamber 15', aportion thereof will be evaporated by the vacuum in said chamber whereby further latent heat of vaporization is given up'and the liquid further cooled. The cooled liquid collected in the lower portion of the chamber 15' will flow through the conduit 38 into the coil 39 and conduit 42 into the chamber 16, such flow being caused both by the heatingof the liquid in the coil 39 as well as by the difierence in levels between the liquid in thechambers 15 and 16. The liquid in the lower portion of the chamber 16' will then flow throu h the conduits 8 into the pump 9', w ere the same is again operated upon in the manner disclosed the accompanyin in my copending application heretofore referred to, the vapors disengaging from the liquids in said pump and passing of? into the conduit to the atmosphere, and the liquid ,passin through the conduit 25' into the receiver 54'. lit will be noted that the pressure in the receiver 24' .is that of the atmosphere, the ump operating non-submerged. There ore, when the vacuum in the. chamber 16' is created, its efiect upon the ejector 21' and in the pipe conduit 23'.is to rmit the atmospheric pressure to force the iquid, in the .receiver2d', into the conduit 23' and the ejector 21'.

Having thus desc ibed and shown upon certain embodidrawing 7 ance with my inments constructs in accor v aeraaoc the invention is not limited to the particular details and arrangement of parts shown and described, but that the invention comprehends other embodiments, details and arrangement'of parts as do not depart from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a: refrigerating system the combina= tion of a closed chamber divided into two compartments,- the refrigerant forming a liquid seal-between said compartments. a

pump, a conduit from one of said chambers to said pump through which the refrigerant is conveyed from. said chamber to said pump, a conduit'from the upper part of said chamber over said refrigerant to said pump for conveying the air andv apors to said pump to produce a vacuum in said chamber, an ejector in said chamber, 'a con duit from said pump to said ejector through which the refrigerant is returned to said chamber, and a conduit from the upper part of said second compartmenttdsmd ejector for maintainin a vacuum in said second compartment above said refrigerant.

2. In a refrigerating system. the combination of a closed chamber, a substantially vertical partition dividing said chamber into a first and second compartment, a substantially horizontal tray or pan disposed on opposite sides of said partition, the opposite sides of said p'h or traybeing in communication througl said partition by a water-trap passage, an ejector spray nozzle in the first compartment for raining a liquidrefrigerant upon the portion of the pan or tray therein, a conduit extending from the upper part of the second compartment through said partition into the interiorof said nozzle to draw gases and vapors from said second compartment into said first comartment, whereby the partial vacuum so rmed in the second compartment draws therefrigerant'from that portion of the pan in the first compartment through said trap into the portion of said pan in said second compartment to the bottom of said second compartment, and causes said refrigerant to rain from said portion of said pan in said second compartment to the bottom of said second compartment, means to positively continuously remove said refrigerant commingled with gas and vapor from the first compartment into a tank open to atmospheric pressure, and a conduit extending.

no I

rom said tank to said nozzle and through which said refrigerant is continuously returned to said first compartment.

3. lln a refrigerant s stem, the combination of aclosed cham r, a substantially vertical partition dividing, said chamber.

' posite sides of said pan or pan disposed partition, the opor tray being in communication through said partition by a water-trap passage, an ejector spray nozzle stantial ly horizontal tra on opposite sides of sai in the first compartment for raining a liquid refrigerant upon the portion of the pan or tray therein and upon the bottom of said first compartment, a conduit extending from the upper part of the second compartment through said partition into the interior of said nozzle to draw gases and vapors from said second compartment into said first compartment, whereby the partial vacuum so formed in the second compartment draws the refrigerant from that portion of the pan in the first compartment through said trap into the portionof said pan in said second compartment, and causessaid refrigerant to rain from said portion-of said pan in said second compartment to the bottom of said second compartment, means to positively continuously remove said refrigerant commingled with gasand vapor from the first compartment into a tank open to at-- mospheric pressure, and a conduit extend,

ing from said tank to said nozzle and through which said refrigerant is continuously returned to said first compartment.

In witness'whereof, I havehereunto set my hand this 11th da of Au ust, 1920.

MILLA D P. SBOURN. 

